The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-04-14
WITH THE COSSACKS.
A BIT OF EXPERIENCE IN A
SklRMISH WITH THE TURKS.

The ExhiIaration of Riding in Charge.
Horses as Well as Men Feel a Unique
StimuIus-An Impressive Devotional
Finale.
About the middle Of autumn we made
reconnaissance in the direction of Ras-
grad, to endeavor to discover the strength
OF the enemy there. Three regiments Of
Cossacks made up the force, and we
marched all day and part of the night be-
fore we came in the vicinity of the enemy.
On the morning of the second day it was
reported that a considerable detachment
Of Turkish irregulars was encamped q
short distance in front of us. We had
been moving during the night with as
little noise as possible, and had bivouacked
in the rain without building O fire, in
order to give no notice of our approach to
the enemy's pickets. 1t was only just
daybreak when the orders to march were
given, and the column proceeded cautious
ly with few scouts in advance.
In half hour or so we who were riding
little ahead Of the column could see the
characteristic conicl Turkish tents as
sembled in little valley short distance
beyond. At the same instance our scouts
engaged the enemy's piclets, and the
column halted. The camp in sight was
evidently only large outpost, and the
general Immediately gave orders for one
regiment to form and charge through the
camp. We could see the men of the des-
ignated regiment uncover and cross them
selves, and in moment the head Of the
detachment was rapidly moving past us.
Among the officers rode the major, my
old friend of the Dobrudscha, who, un-
known to me, had been promoted to q
lieutenant colonelcy and transferred to
another regiment AS he dashed past he
made gesture of recognition and waved
his hand for me to follow.
RIDING IN A CHARGE.
believe it was more the horses fault
than my own, for certainly 1 never had q
deliberate intention of riding in q charge
If could help, but before knew it was
at the majors side. OFF we went at q
trot, changing our formation to regi-
mental front. Then, in an irregular line,
much broken by the inequalities of the
ground, we swept down the slope at q
gallop. There was some firing, and few
Cossacks fell, but 1 doubt if anybody
heard shot The thunder of the hoofs,
the shaking of the grain bags, the rafting
of the cooking utensils and the resound-
with multitude Of noises which drowned
all other sounds. The exhilaration of the
moment was supreme. Horses as well as
men felt its unique stimulus, and we
rushed through that camp, sweeping 1t
away as the sudden cloudburst in the
Rockies tears out the bed of the arroya.
1t was one of those rare moments of life
when all sense of individuality is merged
in that utterly overwhelming feeling Of
exaltatiOn, in that intoxicatiOn of magnet.
ism which often possesses large masses Of
men moved by some grand and stimuli
taneous impulse. 1t was, perhaps, after
all, very trivial affair from military
point Of view, but the sensation / expert.
enced was by no means insignificant or
easily forgotten.
Part of the Turkish force took to flight
in time and escaped; those who remained
to defend Sheir camp were sabred, spitted
like fowl on the lances or captured and led
back to the main column at the end of a
lariat. The finale of this little incident
was fully as impressive as the charge it.
self, although in quite another way.
After we made camp that night the men
of the regiment which had engaged ths
enemy were drawn up in line with uncov-
cred heads and sang religious hymn in
SiOluo. IlOW UDW WeTc InOSD
faces which few hours before had been
distorted with the cruel expressions Of
hatred of the infidel, or glorifiett by tia
excitement of the charge or with the
consciousness Of victory. Uniforms apart,
the men looked like a rank of devout,
peaceful farmers, bronzed by the sun in
the fields and begrimed with the dust at
agriculture. The hymn rolled forth IN
quaint, sad cadences, tuned to a minor
key, like most of the native melodies.
Along the ranks gap purposely left hero
and there showed where q comrade had
stood the day before. Although could
not catch word they sang, the signifi-
canoe of the hymn could not be mistaken.
Many rough hands brushed fearful eyes
before the last mournful note died away,
and the regiment then dispersed about the
camp with a quiet step, as If the least
noise were an insult to the dead.-F. D.
Millett in Harpers.